Page 16 July 2013
www.thesoutherncross.org.au
The
Southern Cross | faith
In the fourth of our series on
the Nicene Creed in the Year
of Faith, Fr Michael Trainor
looks at how God embraces
everything in our world and
lives.
‘For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was
incarnate of the Virgin Mary
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the
Scriptures...’
This article of the Creed, formulated
in 325, summarises how God’s love
of humanity and creation becomes
expressed through the coming of God’s
Word in Jesus. This connects with the
heart of our daily lives and the religious
depths of our world so infused with
God’s presence because of Jesus.
We are reminded, first, that God is
turned in loving communion towards
us. This is the meaning behind ‘for our
salvation’ that is revealed in God’s Word.
The original Greek word, anthropos,
translated as ‘men’ in our current
English translation, literally means the
whole of humanity. God is turned in
loving kindness towards all human
beings; God desires to be close to us in
loving communion (‘salvation’). God’s
disposition towards us is not determined
by who or what we are. It is God’s
fundamental stance.
The way God reveals ‘salvation’ is
through the action of the Holy Spirit
in the ‘incarnation’ of the Word, God’s
Wisdom and Son. The Creed’s phrase,
‘was incarnate from the Virgin Mary’ and
become human (anthropos), is indeed
very beautiful. This draws on a rich
theology from John’s Gospel.
In Jn 1.14 we hear how the ‘Word
became flesh and dwelt amongst us.’
The word ‘flesh’ in John’s Greek text is
sarx. Sarx is not the skin that surrounds
our bodies. It is rather everything that
makes us human and deepens our lives:
the world, creation, people, events,
tragedies, joys – absolutely everything
that shapes us. This is what the Word
became. This means that God embraces
everything in our world and lives. These
can reveal the powerful presence of God
to us. Everything is grace.
This section of the Creed concludes with
the summary of the Word’s presence in
the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
We believe that Jesus was Jewish, lived
in a particular time and place, suffered
and died.
We believe that God raised him from the
dead. This is the heart of our faith. We
believe that this, too, will be our destiny.
This is the future of God’s sarx, revealed
in Jesus, the face of God.
His suffering, death and resurrection
reveal the face of God turned towards us
in our struggles and search for eternal
communion.
Father Michael Trainor is senior
lecturer in biblical studies at the
Catholic Theological College and
Flinders University, executive member
of the International Council of
Christians and Jews, and author of a
number of books on the Bible.
Infused with God’s presence
The Australian Hymn Book Pty Ltd is holding its
first international hymn competition as part of
its work of gathering the finest congregational
songs for its Together in Song collection.
The competition has two entry levels – general
and specific (Pauline text focus) – and requires
entrants to provide four copies of each hymn
with the option of submitting a CD/mp3 track
with vocal lines.
The winners in each level will receive $1,200.
Entries close at 5pm EST July 31, 2013.
For guidelines and further information, visit
www.togetherinsong.org or email enquiries@
togetherinsong.org.au
Hymn competition
The South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools:
• makes and reviews policy in those matters relating to Catholic schools which require coordination and rationalisation in SA
• is concerned with education in all Catholic schools and with matters relating to the participation of parents in the education of their children
• assesses the changing needs of, and opportunities for, Catholic education throughout SA
• accounts for educational practices in all Catholic schools to appropriate state and commonwealth government bodies
• acts as an authority pursuant to state and commonwealth governments
• is a collegial public juridical person established by the Archbishop of Adelaide, according to the Code of Canon Law.
The selected applicants will:
• be appointed jointly by the Archbishop of Adelaide, the Bishop of Port Pirie and the two persons appointed by the Congregational Leaders
• have significant experience, expertise and skills relevant to the needs of the Commission and the governance of Catholic education in SA
• be willing to attend monthly Commission meetings and other sub committees as required.
Membership of the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools is voluntary. Out of pocket expenses, significant travel,
child care expenses and reimbursement for lost income for meeting attendance will be met by the Commission.
Annual Reports are available at http://online.cesanet.adl.catholic.edu.au/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-638
Expressions of Interest, including a brief statement detailing experience and interest in Catholic education, to be sent to director@cesa.catholic.edu.au or :
Dr Paul Sharkey
Executive Officer,
South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools
PO Box 179
TORRENSVILLE PLAZA SA 5031
by Monday 12th August 2013.
Enquiries to Bill Pecker, Executive Secretary, SACCS, 8301 6678
The South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools
is calling for expressions of interest from members of the Catholic Church
community in South Australia to serve as a member of the Commission.
Membership of the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools is voluntary. Out of pocket expenses, significant travel, child care expenses and reimbursement for lost
income for meeting attendance will be met by the Commission.
The biennial SALA event hosted by Saint
Ignatius’ College kicks off on Friday August 9
with an opening night celebration sponsored
by Primo Estate and featuring guest speaker
Amanda Pepe, chief executive officer of the
Helpmann Academy.
The exhibition of work from 75 South Australian
artists includes featured emerging artist
Lucy Turnbull and paintings and sculpture by
indigenous artists from Ramingining, Arnhem
Land.
This diverse and elegantly curated exhibition
continues throughout the weekend with free
admission, artist talks and demonstrations,
café, music and bar. See diary dates for more
information.
St Ignatius art show
IN BRIEF